May 3, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: White Oaks Art Show Volunteers Needed
- PTA News: 2026/2027 PTA Board Slate, Founders' Day
- SCEF News: Upcoming SCEF Events for Hometown Days
- Community News: Hometown Days, San Carlos United Tryouts, Parent Education Opportunities
IMPORTANT DATES
Wed, May 6: Founders' Day
Fri, May 15 & Sat, May 16: SCEF Hometown Days
Wed, May 20: Celebration of Learning
Mon, May 25: Memorial Day (no school)
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks Families,
Celebrating third grade:
I am proud to announce that our third grade classes led by Ms. Kiyomi Arai and Mrs. Nicole Martin have been recognized in the 2026 RethinkWaste Trash to Art Contest. Room 2 and Room 1's class Project Based Learning (PBL) project, “Trash Treasures,” won 1st and 2nd Place respectively in the class category. In addition, third graders Parker and Kenna won 1st and honorable mention respectively in the individual category. Congratulations to these classes for their incredible work on conservation and sustainability. I am so proud of the students for their learning and creativity! Thank you, Ms. Arai and Mrs. Martin for making learning meaningful and fun!
2026-2027 Classroom Placement Procedure
White Oaks Elementary School is fortunate to have a dedicated team of teachers who work closely with families to support each child’s growth and provide a high-quality learning experience for all students. As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, we want to share information about our class placement process, which is designed to create balanced classroom communities where every child can thrive.
Because this process is carefully designed to meet the needs of all students, we do not accept parent requests for specific teachers or classroom placements for the upcoming school year. Likewise, teachers do not request specific students for their incoming classes. Our school community has confidence in this process and in the professional care our staff takes to ensure that every student is placed in a supportive and successful learning environment.
Throughout the school year, teachers develop a deep understanding of each student’s strengths, learning needs, and social dynamics. In the spring, grade-level teams work collaboratively to thoughtfully create balanced classes for the following year. This is a detailed and intentional process that takes many important factors into account, including academic strengths and challenges, social relationships, learning styles, gender balance, student services, English language proficiency, and other considerations that help foster positive classroom communities.
Teachers also meet together to discuss each child’s progress and needs, sharing assessment information, work samples, and observations to help guide placement decisions. This collaborative approach allows staff to consider the whole child and make decisions that support the success of every learner.
We value the important partnership between home and school and recognize that families know their children well. Our staff carefully considers each student’s academic, social, and emotional needs during the placement process in order to create balanced and supportive classroom communities. To preserve fairness and ensure the integrity of this process for all students, we do not accept requests for specific teachers or classroom placements.
We appreciate your partnership and your confidence in our staff as we work to create the best possible learning environments for every child. Our teachers approach class placement with great care and professionalism, and we are grateful for your support in helping us maintain a process that is equitable, thoughtful, and centered on student success.
Staff appreciation week
We are celebrating and appreciating our staff this week! A huge THANK YOU to our entire staff for their hard work and dedication. They work diligently to support students in their academic growth while also creating a caring and safe environment where every child can thrive. The staff and I thank you in advance for the wonderful treats planned throughout the week. I encourage the students and families to write a note and/or draw a picture for our team. These are often the most treasured gifts of all!
In community,
Rosina Tong
Weekly Menu
School News
White Oaks Art Show 2026: Volunteers Needed!
Help us celebrate our student artists on May 20! We need your energy to make this gallery shine. Shifts are just 20–30 minutes, perfect for a quick contribution.
Open Roles:
• Gallery Creators: Mount artwork and add labels.
• The Hanging Crew: Set up drapes and display the art.
• Digital Lead: Create the event slideshow.
• Rescue Team: Help with tear-down and organization.
No experience needed! Sign up to help our creative community.
PTA News
Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month!
April is Arab American Heritage Month! It’s a time for us to learn about, and celebrate, Arab culture and the contributions of Arabs and Arab Americans past and present. We are proud to have many families with Arabian heritage in our White Oaks community including families with links to Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia!
Your Culture & Belonging PTA Committee wanted to share some free resources to help you and your families honor Arab American Heritage Month which is in April each year. Get your kids ready to sample some tasty recipes, get creative with art projects, and move to the beats! You can also learn more, and get resources from the Arab American National Museum.
Please also visit our vibrant new board display with your kids opposite the MU to get learning and talking about Arab American culture and contributions!
2026-2027 PTA Board Slate and Volunteers Still Needed
Below is our slate for the 2026-2027 school year.
Great news, we were able to fill the position of President (thank you Erinn Steinberg!)
We do still need an Executive Vice President to help our President! There are also 3 more open positions as listed below.
If you are able to help, please email Aurelia Abcouwer at [email protected] or Mariel Valezzi at [email protected]
Founders' Day - May 6
The White Oaks PTA warmly invites you to attend our 76th Founders' Day, a celebration of our amazing volunteers, teachers, and community! Please join us on May 6th at 6:30 p.m. in the MU this year’s Founders Day Honorees
~Lauren Shluzas - Very Special Person
~Tiffany Day - Very Special Person
~Jennie Romeo - Honorary Service Award
~Annie Stevenson - Outstanding Administrator
~Angela Becher - Outstanding Teacher
~Tracy Mitchell-Ardwan - Outstanding Teacher
If you would like to come we kindly as that you RSVP via our Evite link here.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Your Founders’ Day Team
SCEF News
Make it Happen in May!
SCEF has already raised $2.9 million toward our $3.7 million goal - Help us meet the need!!
If you haven’t yet, please make your annual fund gift in May. The SCSD school board and PTA’s are beginning to finalize their budgets for next school year. The sooner they know what our grant will be, the better they can plan. Visit www.scefkids.org/ways-to-give to see the many ways to make your annual fund donation. Please note: It takes 8 to 10 weeks for a workplace giving donation to reach SCEF. Early planning helps make sure your donation is collected this fiscal year.
SCEF at Hometown Days - Come to Burton Park for Middle School Bands & Derby Day
The SCSD middle school jazz band & orchestra will perform at the Bandshell Stage on Friday, May 15, 2026 beginning at 5:30pm. Bring a blanket, some chairs, and a picnic dinner for this annual celebration of San Carlos music students.
NEW THIS YEAR: SCEF/SC Charter Derby Race is coming to Hometown Days on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Come cheer on SC Charter students as they race their self-built cars down Arroyo Hill in this exciting STEM showcase. The race starts right after the Hometown Day Parade, approx. 10:15am.
Community News
San Carlos Hometown Days is Almost Here!
Hometown Days returns May 15 - 17 with three full days of festivities! Featuring live music, games, rides, beer and wine gardens, a derby, and several new additions, there’s something for everyone at Hometown Days! To stay up to date and get involved, please visit cityofsancarlos.org/
Family Cornhole Tournament
San Carlos Hometown Days will be hosting its 1st Annual Family Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, May 16 at Burton Park from 12 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Visit our website here for registration.
Ryan Greco Memorial Art and Coloring Contest
Local youth are invited to showcase their creativity at our Annual Art Contest (Grades 6-8 & 9-12) and Coloring Contest (Grades TK-3 & 4-5). Submissions are accepted beginning April 1 at the Youth Center and will close on May 8. Download the coloring pages and submission forms here.
Pet Palooza
Got a cool pet you want to show off? Sign up for the Hometown Days Pet Palooza and enter your pet in one of three categories: Best in Show, Best Dressed, or Most Unique! The Pet Palooza takes place on Sunday, May 17 at the Madsen Field Stage. Check-in begins at 9:45 a.m. Register here.
Fun Run
Celebrate San Carlos pride at the Hometown Days Fun Run on Sunday, May 17 at 8:30 a.m.! Choose a 5K or 10K and enjoy a fun, non-competitive run for all ages, complete with a commemorative medal. Learn More and Register here.
San Carlos United Tryouts!
San Carlos United Soccer Club will hold tryouts for boys and girls in 1st to 11th grade starting in May 2026 for the Fall 2026 season. If interested, please register online at https://www.sancarlosunited.
Mark your calendars for these powerful events coming up this spring!
Jonathan Caspi, PhD, family therapist and internationally recognized sibling expert, will share Raising Loving Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Help Your Kids Connect (May 7).
NEW! How can parents stay close with their children through middle school? We welcome Chris Balme, education leader and school founder, for The Road to Middle School: How to Set Kids Up to Thrive (May 13).
NEW! Are we guiding our kids toward their “true north”? Belle Liang, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Boston College, presents How to Navigate Life: The New Science of Finding Your Way in School, Career, and Beyond (May 14).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
- Parent Venture Series Events
PTA CORNER
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